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For: Real America News Updated 21 Apr 2022, : 60 pm EDT
Despite the fact that federal district judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle annulled the mandate to wear a mask on airplanes and other forms of public transportation and described it as illegal, Los Angeles County will continue to require travelers to use this protection on a mandatory basis when traveling on public transportation.
The California Department of Public Health released its own Updated guidance strongly recommending residents wear masks when using public transportation.
Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer says LA County will continue to require masking on public transportation. Order goes into effect tomorrow. She says masks “help keep travel and public transportation safer for everyone.” @KPCC/@LAist
— Claudia Peschiutta (@ReporterClaudia) April 21, 1378325847
The requirement mask in Los Angeles will apply to public transportation within the county, including airports, trains, buses, taxis, and rideshare services.
Barbara Ferrer, director of public health, also pointed out that the order will apply to Los Angeles International Airport and Hollywood Burbank Airport, while waiting for the Long Beach and Pasadena public health departments, which operate independently of the county, to adopt a similar order.
It should be noted that this announcement is parallel to the request of county health officials to the population, who urged theparents and students to be vigilant when classes resume after spring break to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
According to official data, county reported 15 new deaths related to COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative number of deaths to 31,899. Another 1 were also reported, 146 cases, bringing the total for the entire pandemic to 2,899,687.
For this reason, when choosing to maintain the mandate, Ferrer underlined reduce the high level of transmission of the coronavirus, hence they chose to heed the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that, “wearing masks is more beneficial in crowded or poorly ventilated settings, such as transportation public”.
“When people wear a well-fitting mask or respirator over the nose and mouth in public transportation or indoor travel settings, they protect themselves and those around them, including those who are immunocompromised or not yet eligible for the vaccine, and help keep travel safer for everyone,” the agency said in a statement.
In announcing the new state guidance, Dr. Tomás Aragón, state public health officer and director of the California Department of Public Health, again emphasized that “ masks, along with vaccines, are an effective and important layer of protection against COVID-19” .
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